Associations spend a lot of energy trying to attract members, engage volunteers and recruit directors and staff. But what do you do once you have captured them? Do you make them feel welcome and valued at events? Are you a good “host” or do you leave members to figure it out on their own? Onboarding is…
The primary role of a chair is to: Ensure the agenda is followed and completed on time Ensure the meeting stays on track Ensure both sides of a discussion are aired Ensure the necessary decisions are reached Some tips for better-run meetings include: Ensure clarity; explain the overall purpose at the start of the meeting,…
If you are told your not-for-profit status is in jeopardy by having a surplus or an operating reserve of more than 3-6 months, it is time to find a new accountant! The Canada Revenue Agency has made no statement ever about the amount of operating reserves that is acceptable for not-for-profits. To determine the optimal reserve…
Every successful High Performance Membership Organization™ CEO knows the importance of tracking metrics. At a minimum, associations must be tracking: Member attraction Member retention Member satisfaction Member engagement Metrics are critical to evaluating association sustainability. The data sets certain benchmarks and allows the association to track its progress. Well designed metrics demonstrate where an association has…
Does your association board include directors who tell you that operations must be run on a break even basis because you are a “non-profit”? Nonsense! You will not lose your non-profit status nor will the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) penalize you for having resources. A “not-for-profit”, or “non-profit” organization is a registered corporate entity that…
A recent survey1 of Canadian membership associations showed that only one third of chief executives were confident that all of their directors could clearly articulate the association’s Member Value Proposition (MVP). From a strategic perspective this is a problem! If your leaders can’t state your MVP, how can they be effective ambassadors for membership? Be aware, your MVP is…